The Nova Scotia Sea School promotes the Maritime tradition of boats and the sea as a means for young people to learn the values that seafaring has taught for generations; Leadership, Courage, Responsibility, Cooperation, Generosity, Environmental Stewardship and Respect.
The Sea School offers primarily teenagers, ages 14 to 18, adventure experiences that transform how they see themselves, the world around them and their capacity to contribute to our society. From the simple experience of life on a small boat or building something with their hands youth gain the confidence and awareness to make important decisions about their lives. On a Sea School experience young people make new friends, discover areas of personal intelligence they might not have valued or known about, connect with the beauty of Nova Scotia and see their role in preserving it, gain firsthand experience of our maritime history and traditions, learn healthy living and build strong environmental ethics.
“Why am I so eager to tell anyone and everyone who will listen about the Sea School? I guess it's because I see the Sea School as being such a unique organization, in its aims and philosophies and success rate that offers an experience that no other outdoor adventure/education programs, summer camps or youth development services in Canada even come close to paralleling. The Sea School has built a completely unique way to engage youth (and adults) in their community, their education, their natural environment and the heritage of this place. Sea School trips are profoundly emotionally intense and fun. It grew out of the unique community, heritage and creative environment that seem to flourish in Nova Scotia and it involves some of the most inspiring social activists, artists and educators in the community… Somehow the Sea School straddles outdoor education, environmental education, community development, youth engagement, mental health, boat-building and Nova Scotian seafaring traditions, and the results are pretty incredible.”
- Phoebe Owen, Alumni